Machine for labeling packets, boxes, and the like



June 23, 1925. 1,543,153

A. DAY

MACHINE FOR LABELING PACKETS, BOXES, AND THE LIKE Filed March I 192:: 6 Shets -Sheet 1 June 23, 1925.

A. DAY

MACHINE FOR LABEL ING PACKETS, BOXES, AND THE LIKE' Filed March e; 1923 June 23, 1925. 1,543,153

. 4 A. DAY

MACHINE FOR LABELING PACKETS, BOXES, AND THE LIKE Filed March 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 241 w 5mm? m1 INVENTOR W *7 June 23, 1925.

A. DAY

MACHINE FOR LABELING PACKETS, BOXES, AND THE LIKE Filed March 6, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet '4 m June 23, 1925.

A. DAY

MACHINE FQR LABELING PACKETS, BOXES, AND THE LIKE Filed March 1923 Q a ShetS -Shd 5 W5 46/41 17 919. o ass INVENTOR MA W 4 June 23, 1925. 1,543,153

A. DAY

MACHINE FOR LABELING PACKETS, BOXES, AND THE LIKE INVENTOR mizm Patented June 23,1925.

UNITED STATES 41,543,153 PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT DAY, or LONDON, ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR LABELING PACKETS, BOXES, AND THE LIKE.

' 53 Winsham Grove, London, S. W. 11, Engpowders, seedsetc., the said containers being land, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Machines 'for Labeling Packets, Boxes, and the like,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for labeling packets, boxes and the like, particularly paper packets, cardboard boxes, tins,-

and similar containers for tea, coffee, tobacco,

hereinafter generically termed packets. The machines to which this invention relates are of the kind in which a label having gum or other adhesive material (hereinafter generically termed gum) on its underside is required to be folded and pressed on to the top and ends of the packet, and in some cases is also required to be overlapped on the underside of the packet.

In known machines for such purposes the labels are taken from a rising and falling label magazine by revolving gumming pads, from which padsthey are taken by tongs or gripping fingers which bring them" to a position in which they can engage the packet. The packet and label have been simultaneously lifted by a vertically reciprocating ram into a box open at the bottom and top and forming part of the machine. Successive packets and labels being continuously supplied, they were then pushed upwards through the said box by the continued action of the ram, the labels being folded on the packets at their entry, into the box, and the pressure to' which the packets thus labeled were submitted during their passage through the box caused the labels to adhere firmly to their respective packets.-

If in a machine of this kind working at a high speed'the packets are delivered into 'the machine by a trough conveyor which places them on a platform, and a gummed label is placed on top of the packet, where the said label is released by the tongs or other mechanism by' which it has been brought to the packet, the said label is liable to be immediately displaced by air currents before it has time to adhere to the packet. If the packet has been made with folded ears or triangular flaps of paper or the like at one or both ends, and the label has the function of securing these Application filed March 6,1923. Serial No. 623,276.

ends, the said ends tend to open and allow a portion of the contents of the packet to escape while the packet is resting on the platform and is being lifted towards the box. Also, the packets are liable to be presented to the box with a slight error of alignment, and therefore soft packets maybe crushed in entering and going through the box.

According to this invention each packet is separately and positively. delivered by a conveyor into a cage or packet carrier, wherein the folds, in the case of a packet having a. folded cover, are held under control'and in which cage a ram works vertically, the cage practically forming an extension of the conveyor until the packet is transferred to the cage, when a movable flap automatically rises to enclose the packet, which is registered in the correct position by the cage. Thelabel is brought to a correct position close under the box to await the rise of the packet and is held between gnechanical fingers until it becomes held be viously labeled packet in the box. The

cage is then lifted, keeping control of-the folds of the packet, until the top of the packet engages the label, and the ram continuing to rise pushes the packet and label into the box; in this movement the box and cage may be considered as practically constituting a .tube, the lower part of which tube is the cage. The cage then descends toallow the insertion of another packet and label and then again rises to rejoin the box.

The interior of the box hashitherto been provided with resilient pressure devices such as brushes, but these brushes being fixed,

there is a difliculty in adjusting the amount of pressure which they exert on the packets in order to press the labels on to the-ends of the packets, as if this pressure is excessive, tearing of the label or deformation of the packets on entering the box is liable to result, or even the collapse of the entering packetdue to the end pressureof the'brushes having'a cumulative effect; this causes the packets to swell out sideways in thebox, and the softer the packetsthe tighter they jam. To meet this difiicult in the present-invention the pressure 0 mittently relieved at the moment one packet enters the box and another packet passes out of the box to the ejector, this relief being automatically effected by the brushes at one the brushes is inter- I more than one flat surface should be em-' labels, causing the packets to stick to each other and clogging up the machine. It is considered preferable that the gum should be supplied by the intervention of a gum pad presenting a flat surface to the label, such gum pad however being rotated 1n order to take up gum alternately with its delivery thereof to the label, and for the sake of rapidity of working, it is preferred that ployed. In the case of an octagonal or other polygonal revolving drum presenting a succession of flat faces to successive labels, wear taking place at the angles of these fiat faces causes a loss of parts of the effective length of each fiat face, so that correct gumming of the whole width of the label is impossible. Also where a large number of pads are used the labels are morellkely to adhere to the, pads and tear when being separated due to extra timeduring which they are allowed to remain in contact with 4 the pads. In the case of separate flat pads controlled by a cam in the form of a circle having opposite portions cut away the gum roller mechanism in pressing contact with the arcs of the circle along each end is liable to suffer a sudden jerk or slip when the flat side reaches such mechanism. Ac

cording to this invention, in which two separate flat pads are employed, the controlling cam or cams 1s or are made withtwo straight sides joined at the ends by portions'of semicircular outline, that is, portions which are not centred on the centre of rotation of the cam, so thatthe gum roller .mechanism runs centripetally when approaching the I straight parts of the cam and therefore spresses steadily on the campractically throughout its revolution.

, It is desirable that in the contingency of i an interruption in the supply of packets to 1 soft packet.

.the machine, the supply of gummed labels should also be stopped automatically. This has previously been effected by causing the leading edge or corner of the moving packet to lift a catch, which could be done by a hard packet, but not with certainty by a In order to provide stop mechanism vwhich is equally certain in action with either hard or soft packets, ac-

cgrding to this invention a feeler or detector working adjacent to the conveyor which brings the packets to the. machine is positively lifted clear of each packet until the packet has been positively fed forward, then descends on to the followin packet while the latter is stationary; but if no packet is there the detector descends further and pre vents both the spring-impelled variable stroke of the label magazine and the independent feeding to a definite extent of the labels in the magazine. This independent feed facilitates the separation of the labels at the top of the magazine by the points of screws which prevent a second label following the one taken at each stroke, as well as controlling the position of the remainder of the labels in the magazine, and preventing them from becoming shaken out of their correct positions.

The invention also comprises means for locating and folding the label, as hereinafter described.

In order that the saidinvention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described more fully with reference to'the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way ofexample a machine embodying this invention, in/

Figure 2 is a central vertical section of I the parts shown in Figure 2% Figure 3 is an elevation of the machine viewed from the righthand side, from which 5 parts shown in Figure 2 are assumed to have been removed to show the interior mechanlsm. v K

Figure 3 shows on a larger scale the essential operative parts of the machine separately from the actuating mechanismseen in Figure 3.

Figure 3 shows the magazine lifting" mechanism in side elevation.

Figure 3 shows the cam and lever for actuatingthb magazine lifting mechanism in front elevation.

Figure l is a plan of the machine omitting some of the upper parts thereof.-

Figure 5. is a front view of the label magazine taken in the direction in Figure 3: Y

Figure 6 is a detail showingp'arts of the front of the labeling box.

. Figure 7 is a rear elevationof the labelmg box. v

b Figure 8 is a sectional plan of the labeling Figure 9 shows in side elevation amodifiedarrangement of the labeling box.

of the arrow seen,

(Figure 3) indicates the label magazine, 14

the rotary shaft carrying the gumming pads 15 and 16, 17 the gum box, 18 a conveyor for leading the packets into the machine, 20 a cage for receiving packets from the said conveyor, 21. the packet lifting ram, 23 the front of the open box or tube through which the labeled packets are forced by the ram, and 24 the packet ejector for removing the labeled packets end to end from the top of the said box.

On a short shaft 25 (Figure 4). are mount-. ed the fast pulley 26 and the loose pulley 27 and on the inner end of the said shaft 25 is a bevel pinion 28in gear with a bevel pinion 30 on the shaft 12. On the shaft 12 is a cam 31 (Figures 1 and ,2) onthe outer face of which is a crank pin 32 linked by a rod 33 (which is preferably adjustable in length) to a pin 34 on a plate 35 which can rotate freely on a stud 36, secured in the machine frame. On the inner surface of this plate 35 is pivoted on a stud 37 a push comprising spur teeth on its'outer surface and four ratchet teeth 42, 43, 44, (Figure 2) on its inner surface; The pawl 38 is kept contact with the ratchet teeth by a ,7 spring 46. The ring 41 engages a pinion 47 secured on the gum pad shaft 14, the pinion 47 having half the number of teeth that thering 41 has, so that the shaft 14 rotates twice for one revolution of the plate 35, that is, the ratchet wheel turns a quarter of a revolution for each stroke of the pawl and thereby causes half a revolution of the shaft 14. On a cross rod or stay 48 fixed in the machine frame is pivoted a lever 50 carrying a bowl 51 engaging the cam 31, the said lever 50 being linked by a rod 59 to an oscillating lever 52 pivoted'on a stud 53 in the machine frame, the other end of which lever 52 carries a bowl or stud 54. On the shaft 14 is a centreingdisc 55 having in its periphery two, recesses 56 and 57 spaced 180- degrees apart, and on the rear of the centreing disois {grooved brake pulley 58 around which passes a brake band 60, one end of which comprising a spring 61, is anchored to the machine frameat 62, and the other end of which brake'band is secured to the pin or eye bolt 63 which connects the rod 59 'is the position as shown in Figure 2.

with the lever 52 A spring 64 connects the lever 52 with the machine frame at 62, and by its tension exerted on the lever 50 through the said lever 52 and rod 59 keeps the bowl 51 in close contact with the cam 31. Thelever 50 in rocking outwardly under the influence of the cam 31 first applies the brake band to the pulley 58 and then further tightens thesaid brake band and engages the bowl 54 /with one of the recesses 57 in the disc 55 to check itsrotation. This On the inward stroke of the lever 50 the disc 55 is set free to resume its rotation when impelled through the toothed ring 41 from C the push pawl 38. v v On the shaft 14 between the two side frames of the machine is secured a sleeve 65 (Figure on each end of which sleeve is formed a pair of oppositely directed arms 66, 67 A gum pad 15 is secured to the outer ends of the two arms 66, and a similar gu u pad 16 is secured to the outer ends of the two arms 67.

On the outer ends of the sleeve 65 are a pair of cams 70, 71 (Figure 4) each of which is shaped atits periphery with semi-.

circular ends joined by parallel plane surfaces located adjacent to and in line with the outer surfaces of the gum pads 15 and 16.

On the framework of the machine is a bracket or platform 72. (Figure 3) supporting the gum box or trough 17 which can he slipped into position from the side of the machine within stepped plates 73, 74, on the sides of-tl1e said bracket. In bearings on the gum box suchas long brass 1 bushes 76, 77 (see also Figure 1) 1s a freely bearings or bushes 81, 82, in which is freely rotatable a shaft 83, carrying another roller 84 in contact with the roller 80. At

llu

each end of the shaft 83 and adjacent to the bearings 81, 82, are freely rotatable bowls .or runners 85, 86, which are held in contact with the cams 70 and 71- respectively by confined springs 87 acting on rods 88, 89 working through staples 90 on the gum box, the said rods being pivotally connected with the lower ends of the levers 78, 79.

As the shaft 14 rotates the gum pads 15 and 16v are successively passed across the roller 84 and pick up gum therefrom, and as the gum pads arrive at the positions shown in Figure 3, they are centred and held in position by the bowl 54 engaging the corresponding recess 57 (Figure 2).

A rod 91 (Figure extends across the 'front of the gum bo'x carrying a'pair of hooks 92each adapted to engage ap'in 94, or 95, at the lower end of the lever 78 or "79 (which pin connects such lever to the vrod 88 or 89) for holding the roller 84 .wheel 103 which turns freely on a stud 104 in the machine frame. The chain wheel 103 is connected by means of a friction clutch with'a gear wheel 105 on the same stud 104, which wheel 105 gears with a wheel 106 (Figures l and 2) on the gum r0ller shaft 75. A gear wheel 115 on the shaft 75 drives a pinion 116 on the shaft '83 to maintain the rotation of the rollers 80 and 84 so that the peripheral speed of the roller 84 shall be approximately the same as the speed of thegum pads when they are opposed to the said roller.

()n'a stay rod 107 of the machine frame is pivoted a large two armed lever, one arm 108 of which carries a bowl 110 in contact with a cam 112 (Figure 1) on the shaft 12, while the other arm 113 carries by a forked joint at 114 (Figure 3) the label magazine 13, which a spring. 117 tends to hold in contact with a bowl 118 carried on the end of the platform 72. In order to ensure the labels from the magazine being delivered in correct register with the face of the gum pad, the back of the magazine 13 at 120 is suitably shaped or forms a cam path engaging the bowl 118. A table or movable plate 121 supports a pile of labels in the magazine, the shank of'which movable plate formsa rack 122, engaging a sleeved pinion 123 on the sleeve of which is a ratchet wheel 124 which is actuated by a push pawl 125 and prevented from running back-by a retaining pawl 126. X The pawl 125 is carried on a lever .127

which can'swing on the sleeve of the pin- 1011123. Fulcrumed on the stay rod 107 is another two armed lever 130 (Figure 1) carrying a bowl 130 in engagement with a cam 131, Fig. 3 This lever 130 is connected .with the lever 127 by a rod 132 passing freely through a staple 133 on the 4 said lever 127 and having a collar 134 on its lower end. A spring 135 confined between the lever 130 and the staple 133 transmits to the lever 127 and plate 121 the for ward stroke when the swell or proud part" of the cam 131 engags the bowl 130 on the arm 130 of the lever 130 and when this part of the cam passes oil, the lever 127 and parts connected therewith are posi tligely returned by the action of the collar The working level of the pile of labels feed of the labels is stopped until a 'sufii-.

cient number of labels have been withdrawn to necessitate further feeding. A rod 136 pivotally connected to the underside'of the platform 72 passes through a staple 137 on the lever 113, and a confined spring 138 is .caused by a nut 140 adjustable on the screw threaded lower end of the said rod 136 to press against the staple 137 so as to hold up the lever 113 and the label magazlne. A Y

The label magazine (Figures 3 and 5) comprises a solid back 141, side walls 142 and 143, between which the labels are stacked, and held. or guided by adjustable front bars 144, 145. At each side of the magazine is a bent hinged bracket 146, 147. Bosses or brackets 390, 391 are formed on the sidewall 142 and corresponding bosses 392, 393 on the bracket 146; a pin 394 passes through these four bosses and constitutes a pivot or hinge on which the bracket 146 can swing when required. The bracket 147 is hinged to the side wall 143 in the same way. Each bracket is provided with upper and lower lugs 148,149, through which pass studs or bolts 150, 151 secured in the said bars 144, v145. Springs 152, 153, in compression surrounding the bolts 150, 151 tend to draw out the bars- 144, 145, and screw threaded stop pins 154 passing through the brackets limit the outward movement of the said bars. VVithin the walls 142 and 143 are similar guide bars .155, 156, which can be similarly adjusted. Spring plungers 157, 158, working through the hinged brack-. ets 146,147 and entering recesses in the side 'walls 142, 143, secure the said brackets to the side walls 142, 143 of the label magazine. Guide bars 160 at the back of the magazine may either be fixed or adjustable. At -the top of each guide bar is a pointed adjustable screw 161, which projects inwardly and over the labels in the magazine, so that when the topmost labelis adhering to the gum pad, the withdrawal of the magazine with the pile of labels causes the pointed screws to separate the said topmost label from the pile. J

F or convenience in re-filling the magazine the brackets 146'and 147 carrying the guide bars can be swungsback on'their hinges, leaving the front of the magazine open.

' Across the u per part of the machine frame is secure asupporting bracket 163, to which is attached a packet conveyor 18,

which may be in the form of .a trough formed by two angle plates 1.64, 165 with an open space between their lower flanges.

The packets 166 may either be placed in this trough by hand or fed in automatically from any machine in which they have been made or undergone previous processes and are preferably spaced apart as shown in Figure 3. The motion in the conveyor is obtained by a bar 167 carrying a. number of push plates 168, 169, 170 which move in 1 a quadrangular path, their forward and resecui'ed to a'rod 173, longitudinally movable in a sleeve 174 inabearing 175 carried on the underside ofthe "trough member- 164. Projectingv from the bosses 171, 172, are

arms terminating in forks -176 and 177. On the shaft 25 is 'a cam 178. Ona stud 180 in the machine frame is a lever 181 carrying a bowl 182, engaging this cam 178, this lever being linked at 184 to another lever 183 on the sleeve 174, this lever 183 rotating the sleeve 174 in its bearing'17 5. The lever 183 carries a boss 185 in which is fastened a guide rod 186 flattened at each side and extending through the forks 176 and 177. The action of this mechanism is to give a rising and falling movement to the push plates 169 and 170 and thereby to the bar 167 and the push lates 168 attached there to. At the rear o the boss 172 are formed a pair of jaws 187 within which works a bowl 188 on a lever 190 pivoted on the stud 48, which lever also carries a bowl 191 in Contact with a cam 192 on the shaft 12,, these parts transmitting to the push plates the feeding and return stroke. The lever 190 moves towards and fromthe packet box or cage, the stroke of the lever 190 being slightly greater than the distance between ad jacent packets in the conveyor.-

To the platform 72 is secured a bracket 193 (Figure 3) in which is pivoted at 194 a lever 195, one end of'which is coupled by a link 196 to a rocking lever 197 pivoted on the stay rod 107. A. bowl 198 on the lever 197 engages a cam 200 on the shaft 12; this lever 197 is held to the cam by a spring 201. At the opposite end of thelever 195 is a link 202 connecting it with a boss 203 se cured on a rod 204 capable of sliding vertically in bearings 205 and .206 on thebracket 193. At the upper end of the rod 204 'isia ram head 21 of a suitable size and ,shape according to the packets being labeled. Below this ram head is a boss 208 adapted to slide on the rod 204, which boss 208 carries a cage 20 comprising plates enclosing theram head on three sides, the open side of the cage being the one facing the packet conveyor, from which the packet is fed on to the ram head." Fixed in the boss 208 and passing freely through holes formed in the bearing205 are pins 211 and 212 (Figure 1) which are surrounded by springs 213, 214

in compression, these springs being confined between the said parts 205 and 208. Onthe boss 208 is a lug 215 to which is hinged or pivoted a lever 218 pivoted on the lower part of the boss 208. At the'other end of the lever 218 is connected a spring 220 anchored to the bearing 205, the action of which spring is to keep the flap 216; normally in an erect position. On the top of the bearing 205 is an adjustable stud 221 which is adapted to engage a stop 223 on the lever 218 acting counter to the spring 220.

' l/Vhen the rod 204 is in its lowest position as shown in the drawing, the flap 216 is laid horizontally to allow a packet to be fed by the foremost push plate 168 into position on top of the ram head 21 within the cage 20.

Assuming that the packets are laid in the conveyor with their longer diameters at right angles to their direction of movement therein, and that their ends comprise folded ears. or triangular turned in parts, any

tendency of such ears to. open out is re stricted by the angle iron bars of the conveyor engaging the ends of the packets, and as the cage practically forms an extension of the conveyor, the ears are still controlled while the packet is in the cage.

By the action of the cam 200 the rod 204 and ram 21 are lifted and the springs 213 and 214 cause the boss 208 and cage 20 attached thereto to rise along with the ram,

still keeping control of the ears of the packet, until the cage reaches the open end of the box 23. During the upstroke of the cage, the flap 216 has been turned or pulled into an upright position by the action of the spring 220. The ram head 21 continues to rise beyond the boss 208 until it reaches the level of the open end ,of the box 23. Just prior to the action described the label is' taken from the gum pads '15 and placed between the box '23 and the packet in the (Figure 1) cage by the following means On the shaft 12 is a cam 225 engaging a bowl 226 on a lever 227 pivoted on the stay rod 107 and held in contactwith the said cam by a spring 228, this lever 227 being connected by alink 230 with a lever arm 231 secured on a shaft 232 working in bearings 233 on the side of the box 23.- On the shaft 232 are also a pair of T shaped lever arms 235 and. 236-joined by connecting bolts or stay rods 234 and 237.

,235 and 236 by springs 240 (see Figures 3 and Also pivoted on the rod 237 are a pair of short levers 241, 242, (best shown in Figure 8, also partly shown in Figures 1' and 6) each of these levels carrying a stud 243. On the stud 243 on arm24l is a bowl 244, and-the said studs 243 are also connected by springs 245 in tension with the arms 235 and 236. On a rod 246 in the bracket 163 is a cam 247 engaging the bowl 244, and thus controlling the rise of the arms 238 and 239 under the impulse of the springs 240, as the stud 243 overlaps the said arms at each end. The arms 238 and 239 are turned down at their free ends forming fingers 248 (best shown in Figure 6) which meet fingers 251 on the ends of the levers 235 and 236, and asmall blade 252 on each finger 248 underlies the finger 251.

The cam 247 is connected" by. a rod 253 with a lever 254' pivoted on the rod 48, which lever carries a bowl 255 engaging a cam (not shown) on the shaft 12. The rod 253'passes loosely through a lug 256 on the bracket 193, and between this lug and a collar 257 on the said rod is confined a spring 258 which tends to lift the lever 254 .to press the bowl 255 against its cam.

The label having been brought into position on the gum pad 15 shown in the drawings, the cam 225 causes the arms 235 and 236 to swing on the shaft 232 causing the fingers 251 to. ass over the outer or dry 'side of the labe until they come over slots or recesses 260 and 261 in the gum pad (see Figure 4). At the same time the cam 247 is depressed to cause the blades 252 to pass halfway across each end of the gum pad clear of-the lower side thereof. The cam 247 then rises to allow the blades 252 to rise in the slots 260 and 261 to grip the label against the fingers 251. The gum pads shaft, 14 thenf'recommences its rotation, and the cam 225 allows the arms 235 and-236 to swing on a diverging curve away from the gumpad and return to the position shown in the drawings. -The action of. the pair of arms 235,236 swinging around the shaft 232, gives a peeling motion to the fingers in stripping thelabel from the pad, instead of the whole label being dragged longitudinally A 1 over the pad, that is to say, the ends of the arranged to enter these grooves below the label as the gum pad passes on, the upper surfaces of these plates'264, 265, then pro to ensure correct register of the label under 7 the said box, and stops 267 (Figure 3) are attached to the back plate 272 of the box 23 to assist in the centering of the label.

Pivoted on an extension of each of the fingers 251 is a cam bar 268 (Figure 8), ad justable by means of a screw stop 270, and adapted to engage a peg or bowl 271 on the front outer edge of the box. This cam bar has a slightly curved engaging surface, and its action is to bend or press out slightly the fingers 251 and 248 so as to stretch the label in order to compensate for any slight enlargement thereof which results from moistening with gum, the spring of the metal of which the fingers are made permitting this but if necessary the fingers may .be hinged or madeentirely of laminated or otherflat springs.

When the cam 200 lifts the ram head 21 to bring'the packet in the cage into contact with the underside of the label, so that the upper side of the label can be pressed against the underside of the preceding packet, the lever 254 is depressed, the cam 247 forces down the short levers 241 and 242, these in turn forcing down the arms 238 and 239, taking the blades 252 out of contact with the fingers 251 on the levers 235 and 236'. This opening movement releases thelabel, the central part of which adheres to the top of the packet in the cage. The front 21 of the cage is higher than the sides so that when the'front abuts against the part 23 of the folding box there is room for "the folding of the label.

The label folding box comprises a solid back plate 272 secured on the bracket 163, which back plate is secured at one side to the front plate 23 by. means of a rectangular plate 273 having at its. four corners lugs through which pass studs 274. At the other side of the box the back plate 272 is extended to form a boss 276, and at that side tubular, and registers with a boss 278 on the front plate 23. A bolt 280 passes through the bosses 276and 278 and through the w tubular lower part of the plate 277, which plate can therefore turn on the said bolt as on a hinge pin. Through holes in the'plate 277 pass studs 281, 282; a tie plate 275 is placed on the said studs, springs 283 being confined between th plates 27-7 and 275 to press the plate 277 inwardly, tendingto turn it about its hinged bolt 280. The front and back plates 23 and 272 are narrowed at their lower parts and united by'-'guide plates 285, 286, one of which may be secured by set screws or the like to the front and back plates, and the other, as for example 286, held in position by springs 287 confined by a tie plate 288, the purpose of such springs being to allow the plate 286 to give way slightly to accommodate the opening of the box to the length of a packet. In the lower edges of each plate 285 and 286 are formed slots of the width of the label or slightly wider, which assist in guiding the ends of the label when they are being turned over the ends of the packet during the upward travel of the packet into the box. 1

7 One or more packets are held in the box by brushes. brush (see Figure 7) is secured by bolts 292 to the plate 273. The metal back 293 of the other brush is secured by bolts 294 to the swinging plate 277, which is pressed inwardly by the springs 283 as aforesaid.

The front plate 23 mav' be cut away in the (entre as shown at Figure 6 to permit of inspection of the ascending packets. At each side of the opening therein may be pins 279 engaging bosses 289 on the arms of a plate or flap 332 which flap has lugs-331 at Screw threaded studs 334 pass through these lugs into the front plate 23, and springs are confined between the lugs and the heads or nuts on the studs to press the flap agairst the packet entering the box..

The flap has also a beak or forwardly bent projection 335 carrying an adjustable stop 336 to limit its inward movement under the pressure of the springs. This .has also the effect of keeping the packets steady when the bristles are slackened'.

At the top of the back plate 272 is a recess accommodating a sliding bar 295, and fixed on the back plate and projecting over a portion of the slide bar are two cover plates 296, 297 which retain the said sliding'bar in the recess. On this slidingbar is a stop 298 and on the plate 277 is an upward ex tension300 engaging this stop just before the end ofthe return stroke of the sliding bar. The sliding bar can thus cause the plate 27 7 andits brush to turn back slightly on the hinge pin 280 so as to allow the packets already in the box to be pushed up wards freely by the last packet entering the box, so that the top packet emerges from thebox. f

A cam 301 on the shaft 12 actuates'a lever 302 pivoted on-the rod 107, which'lever 302 is connected by a universal joint. at 303m a rod 304 which by another universal joint at 305 is connected with one arm 306 of a The metal 'back- 291 of onev bell crank lever. pivoted at 307 on the bracket 163, the other arm 308 of the said bell crank lever being connected by a link 309 to an ejector plate 24 fastened to the slide bar 295, which ejector plate 24 pushes the last packet emerging from the box 23 against the preceding packets which are already. in line within a trough or extension 311, U-shaped in cross section, which is carried on the top of the box. While the packetsare being pressed end to end in the extended trough, a plate 312 rests on their tops, this plate being hinged and weighted, or pressed down bya spring or springs. More than one plate may be used, or brushes may be attached underneath the plate. Such plate and/or brushes are employed to give a final pressure to the label on the top of each. packet, and to ofiera resistance to the movement of the packets along the trough which causes their ends to be pressed together to give a final pressure to the labels on their ends.

' In order'to' prevent a label being dehv ered to the gum pad ifthe corresponding packet is not in the feeding conveyor, the following mechanism is provided. An extension 313 of the bracket 163 carries a stud 323 to which is pivoted an oscillatingarm or feeler plate 314. A rod 316 passes through astaple 317 on the extension 315 of the lever 227, a collar 318 on the rod 316 resting on the said staple; A spring 319 is confined between the said staple and an adjustable collar 320. The rod 316 also passes though a staple 321 on a lever arm 322 working on the stud 323 in the bracket 313. Thus the feeler 314 is positively lifted by the action of the down by reason of the resistance to compression of the spring 319. Pivoted on the underside of the platform 72 is a bel-lcrank lever, one arm 326 of which is connected by ,a staple 327 with the rod 316, while its other arm 328 terminates in a finger 329 adaptedto engage a stud. 330 on the lever 113 As shownon the'drawing (Figure 3) the finger 329 is held out of engagement with the stud 330 so long as the feeler arm 314 can restv on a packet in the conveyor trough, but when a packet is absent andthe feeler descends further,the arm 326 is depressed and the finger 329 engages the stud 330 preventing the spring 138 from lifting the lever 113 thereby preventing the label magazine from being lifted so, that. the labels do not come in contact with the gum pads.

Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 illustrate modifications of the apparatus above described which are necessary for adapting it to apply labels'on all four sides of the packet. On

the back plate 272 of thebox 23 are secured a pair of pins 338 and 339 on which can turn radial arms or levers 340 and 341 respective-- ly. 'To the end of the arm 341 is pivoted a folding plate 342, on which is a stud 343 carrying a bowl 344, a spring 345 connectingthe stud 343 with a higher part of the lever 341. Two pivoted links 346 and 347 are adapted to swing on the bracket 163 and to carry a cam bar 348. The bowl on the folding plate 342 is held up tothis cam bar by its spring 345. On the plate 342 are at each side horns or projections 350, 351 which are turned outwardly and. downwardly, forming recessed guides for the label. 6 On the shaft 12 is a cam 352 which engages a bell crank lever 353 pivoted on the stud 354 on the machine frame. A rod 355 is connected by universal joints with this lever 353 and with another bell crank lever 356 pivoted on a stud 357 in the bracket 163. This lever 356 is linked to the aforesaid lever arm 341 in such manner that the cam 362 causes'the arm 341 to oscillate on its pivot 339. This motion is used as hereinafter described to make a short overlapping fold, and if two short ,overlapping folds were required the parts just described would be duplicated in regard to the pivot 338. For making a long overlapping fold so that the label completely surrounds the packet, at the end of the lever arm 340 is pivoted a folding plate 360 longer than the aforesaid plate 342, but similarly carrying a stud 361 on which is a bowl 362, and a spring 363 connecting the said stud 361 with a higher part of the lever arm 340. On the underside of the plate 360 is a lug 364 to which is pivoted a bent plate 365 having at its free end an upturned plate 366 and having an extension or tailpiece 367 connected with the plate 360 by a spring 368. A lug 370 on the bracket 163 carries a pin 371 located at the side of the plate 360. The arm 340 is oscillated by a cam 372 on the shaft 12 through the intervention of a lever arm 373 pivoted on the stud 354 connected by a universally jointed link with a bell crank lever 3'74 linked to the said arm 340. The arms 340 and 341 are connected together by a spring 375 in tension. The cam-bar 348 has a compound horizontal and angular movement obtained from a cam 376 through a lever 377 connected by a universally jointed link to the pivoted link or lever 347. A

spring 37 8.is attached to the end of the cam bar and to the bracket 163 to hold the cam bar down on the bowls 344 and 362.

When the label, as indicated in Figure 11 by the numeral 380, is in the position across the open bottom inlet of the packet box 23, with its right hand end'extending further beyond the said mouth than its left hand end the folding plates 342 and 360 are raised into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 10 by the movement of the cam bar 348 and at the same time the plate 366 (Figure .12) being lifted against the pin 371 is turned down on its pivot in the lug 364, compressing the spring 368, the

label therefore passing below the plate 360 and above the plate 366. At about the same time that the packet raised by the ram head lowering of the plate 360 having disengagedthe arm 365 from the stop pin 371, the spring 368 causes the upturned end 366 of the plate 365 to rise and hold the label against the underside of the plate 360. As the ram pushes the packet up into the folding box 23, at the moment when the bottom of the packet reaches the level ofthe folding box, three sides of the packet being now covered by the label, the folding plates 342 and 360 begin to approach each otherowing to the strokes given to the arms 341 and 340 by their respective cams. The plate 342 first lays the short end of the label on the underside'of the packet, the label being guided by the horns 350 and 351, after which the plate 342 retires. The plate 360 is provided with similar horns 381 and 382 through which the label is guided while slipping from the hold of the upturned part 366 of the spring controlled plate 365 in the advance of the plate 360, which follows up the plate 342 asv the latter retires and lays the long end of the label on the under-side of the packet to overlap the short end. The plate 360 then returns to the position shown in the drawings ready for folding the next label on the next packet.

Two or more sets oflabeling apparatus as herein described can obviously be aggregated in a single machine.

By the use of a machine according to this invention, as compared with machines in which packets are fed into an open box from above, the risk of packets of soft material dropping or being broken or loosened by crushing in bringing them to the box will be avoided, and inspection facilitated. Also the gum will be more correctly distributed on the label by a flat pad than by one of the usual curved shape.

VVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a machine for. the purposes set forth, a box open at the top and bottom, a cage under said box, a conveyor to deliver packets positively into said cage, a pivoted flap adaptedto rise to enclose the packet in said cage, means for positioning an adhesive label between said box and packet, and a ram vertically reciprocating in said cage to lift and push packets therefrom succes-' sively into and through said-box together with said label.

2. Ina machine for the purposes set leocage under said box, a conveyor to deliver packets positively into said cage, a pivoted flap adapted to rise to enclose the packet in said cage, means for positioning an adhesive label between said box and packet, a ram vertically reciprocating in said cage to lift and push packets therefrom successively into and through said box together with said label, an ejector and means operated by said ejector to rock said pivoted plate to relieve the pressure of the brushes on the packet at the moment one packet enters the 20x and another packet passes out of said 3. In a machine for the purposes set forth, a box open at the top and bottom, a rotary shaft, two flat pads mounted on said shaft, two cams also mounted on said shaft, each of said cams having opposing straight sides joined by semicircular ends, bowls engaged by said cams and controlling the supply of adhesive material to said pads, means for supplyin labels to each of said pads in turn, means or removing labels singly from said pads-and for positioning said labels under said box, means for placing packets under said labels, and means for pushing upwards said labels and packets successively into and through said box.

4. In a machine for the purposes set forth, a box open at the top and bottom, a rotary shaft, two flat pads mounted on said shaft, two cams also mounted on said shaft, each of said cams having opposing straight sides joined byvsemicircular ends, bowls engaged by said cams and controlling the supply of adhesive material to said pads, means for supplying labels to each of said pads in turn, means comprising oscillating fingers having a peeling action for removing labels singly from said pads and for positioning said labels under said box, means for placing packets under said labels. and means for pushing upwards said labels and packets successively into and through said box.

5. In a machine for the purposes set forth, a box open at the top and bottom, an intermittently reciprocating label magazine, a table in said magazine to support a pile of labels, means for intermittently reciprocating said table to a definite extent in relation to said magazine, two flat pads supplied with adhesive material and adapted to receive labels alternately from said pile, means for removing labels from said pads and positioning said labels under said box, means for placing packets under said labels and means for pushing upwards said labels and packets successively into and through said box.

6. In a machine for the purposes set forth, a box open at the top and bottom, an intermittently reciprocating label magazine, the operative mechanism of which magazine comprises a spring to effect the feeding stroke and positively operated means for effecting the return stroke, a table in said magazine to support a pile of labels, means for intermittently reciprocating said table to a definite extent in relation to said magazine, two flat pads supplied with adhesive material and adapted to receive labels alternately from said pile, means for removin labels from said pads and positioning said labels under said box, means for placing packets under said labels, and means for pushing upwards said labels and packets successively into and through said box.

7. In a machine for the purposes set forth, a box open at the top and bottom, a cage under said box, a conveyor to deliver packets positively one at a time into said cage, an intermittently reciprocating label magazine having a spring-impelled variable stroke, a table in said magazine to support a pile of labels, means for intermittently reciprocati ing said table to a definite extent in relation to said magazine, a pad to receive a label from said pile at the top of the stroke of the magazine and table, means for removing said label from said pad and positioning said label under said box, means for pushing a packet from said cage against the underside of said label and upward with said label into said box, an oscillating feeler adjacent to said conveyor, means for positively lifting said feeler clear of each packet while said packet is fed forward and for permitting said feeler to descend on to the following jacket while said following packet is stationary, said feeler when no packet is present on said conveyor'being adapted to escend further, and means actuated by said feeler on such further descent thereof to prevent the stroke of said magazine and table. a a

8. In a machine for the purposes set forth, a box open at the top and bottom, a cage under said box, a conveyor to deliver packets positively into said cage, a pivoted flap adapted to rise toenclose the packet in said cage, means for positioning an adhesive label between said box and acket, a ram verticallyreciprocating in said cage to lift and push a packet therefrom against said label, folding plates to press the pnds of said label on to the lower surface of said packet and a spring controlled plate to rest on the dry portion of the longer end of said label until the whole length of said label is I pressedon said packet.

9. In a machine for the purposes set forth, a box open at the top and bottom, a cage under said box, a conveyor to deliver packets positively into said cage,a pivoted flap adapted to rise to enclose the packets in said cage, means for positioning an adhesive label between said box and packet, a ram vertically reciprocating in said cage to lift and push packets therefrom successively into and through said box together with said label a trough to receive packets from the top of said box, an ejector plate to push said packets along said trough, and a pressing device to press on the tops of the packets wlhich are being pushed by said ejector p ate.

10. In a, machine for the purposes set forth, a plurality of sets of mechanism each comprising a box open at top and bottom, a cage under said box, a-conveyor to deliver packets positively into said cage, a pivoted flap adapted to rise to enclose the packet in said cage, a rotary shaft, two flat pads mounted on said shaft, two cams also mounted on said shaft, each of said cams magazine to support a pile of labels, means for intermittentl reciprocating said table in relation to said singly to each of said pads in turn, means for removing labels from said pads and positioning said labels under said box, and a magazine to supply labels ram vertically reciprocating through said cage to lift and push packets therefrom successively into and through said box together with sald labels.

r ALBERT DAY. 

